Incident Overview
- A former Crunchyroll employee reported experiencing hostility after requesting ADA accommodations due to a depression diagnosis.
- The employee was subjected to verbal abuse during a conference call, which ultimately led to his termination.
- Crunchyroll’s handling of the situation has sparked significant public backlash.
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Shawn Hoffman, a former Senior Software Engineer at Crunchyroll, took to social media to reveal the challenges he faced after being diagnosed with major depression and anxiety, particularly following his mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis. Hoffman requested accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), hoping for support but instead encountered hostility.
During an online meeting, he claims a manager verbally abused him and gestured obscenely by showing a middle finger. The lack of any acceptable context for this behavior raises serious concerns about workplace professionalism.
Allegations Against Upper Management
Hoffman documented this incident with a screenshot and detailed it in his LinkedIn post. Following his report, he noticed a dramatic change in how he was treated within the company. Despite his complaints, no disciplinary action was taken against the manager involved.
As he continued to voice his concerns about the disrespectful treatment he faced, Hoffman was ultimately terminated under ambiguous allegations of a policy violation, although the specifics remain unclear. He further claims that Crunchyroll attempted to negotiate severance in exchange for his silence about the situation.
I raised concerns about workplace treatment, professionalism, and respect. Shortly after, Crunchyroll made the decision to terminate my employment, citing a ‘policy violation’.
Then they offered me severance in exchange for silence.
The manager in this photo? He remains employed.
Meanwhile, I am now without income while I care for my mother, a 52-year-old substitute teacher, who is battling cancer in a broken U. S.healthcare system that has left her unable to afford treatment.
Leadership knew. HR knew. Yet this is how they responded.
I share this not just for myself, but for the many professionals out there who face retaliation for speaking up, who are forced to choose between their livelihoods and their dignity.
As of now, Crunchyroll has remained silent regarding these allegations. Historically, in instances where employees have spoken out about mistreatment, the company has often refrained from making public comments.
Recent Controversies Surrounding Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll has faced a string of controversies in recent months. Notably, voice actor David Wald accused the company of tampering with his mail, raising the stakes for transparency within the organization. Although he promised to disclose more on his Twitch channel, he has yet to follow through.
In December, a report from Bloomberg revealed interviews with 18 current and former personnel, indicating that the workplace atmosphere has deteriorated since Crunchyroll’s acquisition by Sony.
Many employees have expressed dissatisfaction not only with internal conditions but also with the company’s marketing approaches, leading to unease among key Japanese partners. In response, Crunchyroll stated via email that they strive to meet anime fans’ needs.
For further insights, please refer to CBR and Shawn Hoffman’s LinkedIn.
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